Most reputable subscription agents and information intermediaries world-wide belong to the Association of Subscription Agents & Intermediaries. Our aims and objectives are as follows:
1. To Uphold Best Practice
To set and maintain the highest standards of service throughout the scholarly and professional information supply chain. Staff and members of the ASA are in continuous consultation with their publisher and library/consortia customers with a view to understanding and fulfilling their evolving needs.
2. To Protect Members' Interests
The ASA advocates for our members' interests, for example by:
• Taking action when intermediaries' and their customers' interests are threatened (e.g. VAT on e-journals)
• Working to resolve industry issues (e.g. early pricing, gracing periods)
• Contributing to the development of relevant industry standards (e.g. EDI, usage data, licensing, ISSN etc.)
• Seeking to eradicate subscription fraud
3. To Provide Quality Assurance
Agents and intermediaries join the ASA only by unanimous consent of the Executive Committee, in consultation with the wider membership. All members must sign up to and uphold the ASA Guidelines. Membership of the ASA therefore acts as a ‘seal of approval’ assuring publishers and libraries of our members’ commitment to quality, integrity and the highest standards of service.
4. To Collaborate
The ASA works with other industry groups in a variety of ways, for example:
• Lobbying on industry issues (e.g. with The Frankfurt Group)
• Participating on standards committees (e.g. ICEDIS, EdItEUR, COUNTER etc.)
• Collaborating with other professional organisations (e.g. UKSG, ALPSP, SSP, NASIG, STM etc.)
5. To Be Inclusive
We involve as many publishers, librarians, sales agents, technology intermediaries and e-book specialists as we can in our work to ensure industry issues are discussed, our members’ interests are served and any problems are resolved.
6. To Enhance Understanding
The ASA seeks to improve understanding between all parties involved in the scholarly and professional information supply chain, in particular between publishers and libraries.
7. To Encourage Competition
The ASA and its members remain at all times respectful of the healthy competition which exists amongst members (i.e. the ASA is not a cartel).